West Bengal Malda incident: Judicial officers gheraoed for hours, ECI seeks DGP report

Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has sought a report from the West Bengal Police Director General of Police (DGP) for more than 10 hours, till they were rescued at midnight by CAPF, in connection with the incident in Malda’s Kaliachak incident after seven judicial officers, including three women, were gheraoed by a huge number of voters whose names had been deleted in the Adjudication process, in Malda district’s Kaliachak, for more than ten hours. Meanwhile, Supreme Court has showcaused West Bengal Chief Secretary, DGP, Malda District Magistrate and Malda Superintendent of Police.

A huge police contingent, accompanied by CAPF, led by district police arrived at the spot, removed the protesters, and rescued the judicial officers. The seven officials were gheraoed on Wednesday morning, till 1 AM Thursday, The officers were rescued after remaining gheraoed for around nine hours.

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On Wednesday afternoon, a group of protesters started a protest outside the Kaliachak-2 Block Development Office, expressing grievance that their names had been excluded from the SIR during the adjudication process. According to sources, the protest continued late into the night.

District administration officials said that the protesters initially demanded a meeting with the judicial officials in question. After being denied permission to enter the office, they started a demonstration around 4 PM. Effectively, the protesters laid siege to the entire BDO office complex.

The Office of the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) stated, “We have apprised the higher authorities of this matter. The District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police have been directed to reach the scene immediately.”
Another group of protesters blocked the National Highways adjacent to Block-I of Kaliachak under the Sujapur Assembly constituency in Malda district. Entire National Highway 12 was blocked for more than 17 hours.Also Read: Stone pelting in Birbhum: Several policemen, including OC, injured during graveyard dispute

Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar, said that this harassment of the judicial officers is a result of the constantly provocative statements made by the Trinamool Congress leadership, including the Chief Minister, against the ECI over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that it was the duty of the ECI to ensure the security of judicial officers. Trinamool Congress’ state general secretary Ghosh, said that his party never believes in taking the law into its own hands.